Episode 47: From Chant to Carol
SUMMARY
Join Milo and Olivia in this enlightening episode as they explore the rich history of the cherished Christmas hymn "O Come, O Come Emmanuel." Discover its origins from 8th-century Gregorian chant to its transformation in 1851, and learn how its structured framework can deepen your prayer life. Perfect for anyone seeking spiritual growth during the holiday season!
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PODCAST NOTES
Title: From Chant to Carol: The Story Behind “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”
Hosts: Milo Curtis and Olivia Curtis
Download the Companion Notes PDF
INTRODUCTION
What does an 8th century Gregorian chant, the poor in 1850s England, and the Christmas season have in common? In this episode, Milo and Olivia explore the back story to timeless hymn, O Come, O Come Emmanuel and look at how its origins and journey to being a common christmas carol can shape our prayer lives in deep and meaningful ways.
FUN FACT ABOUT THE WORD IMMANUEL
If we are transliterating the Hebrew directly into English, then the vowel is an 'I,' not an 'E,' as I have transliterated it above. But, when Isaiah 7:14 was translated into Greek in the Bible called the Septuagint (LXX), the word was transliterated into Greek letters with an 'E': “Emmanuel,” or Ἐμμανουήλ.
Source: www.TwoPaths.org
THE HYMN WRITER JOHN MASON NEAL
John M. Neale's life is a study in contrasts: born into an evangelical home, he had sympathies toward Rome; in perpetual ill health, he was incredibly productive; of scholarly temperament, he devoted much time to improving social conditions in his area; often ignored or despised by his contemporaries, he is lauded today for his contributions to the church and hymnody. Neale's gifts came to expression early–he won the Seatonian prize for religious poetry eleven times while a student at Trinity College, Cambridge, England. He was ordained in the Church of England in 1842, but ill health and his strong support of the Oxford Movement kept him from ordinary parish ministry. So Neale spent the years between 1846 and 1866 as a warden of Sackville College in East Grinstead, a retirement home for poor men. There he served the men faithfully and expanded Sackville's ministry to indigent women and orphans. He also founded the Sisterhood of St. Margaret, which became one of the finest English training orders for nurses.
Source: https://hymnary.org/person/Neale_JM
ABOUT THE SONG
A Gregorian chant from the 8th or 9th century that was translated in 1851 from the original latin. The original chant was sung over the course of 7 days. Each verse was a specific day.
Day 1: O Sapentia (Wisdom)
Day 2: O Adonai (Hebrew word for God who has dominion)
Day 3: O Radix Jesse (stem or root of Jesse)
Day 4: O Clavis David (key of David)
Day 5: O Oriens (Dayspring)
Day 6: O Rex genitium (King of the Gentiles)
Day 7: O Emmanuel
Looking back across the days, an acrostic is formed reading, “ERO CRAS” which is latin for “I will be present tomorrow.”
Source: https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-o-come-o-come-emmanuel
Between 1851-1900 it appeared in 4% of hymnals. By 1968 it appeared in 57% of hymnals.
A SONG THAT IS A PRAYER
The song is a prayer for God’s intervention that has a framework specific framework. Using this framework, we can learn how to structure our thoughts, longings, and desired outcomes in a way that can radically shape our prayer lives. In each of the verses we see the following structure:
Who God is
What God can do
Our current situation
Desired outcome
Action & Promise
Verse 1 Structure
Who God is - O come, O come, Immanuel…
What God can do - …and ransom captive Israel…
Our current situation - …that mourns in lonely exile here…
Desired outcome - …until the Son of God appear.
Action & Promise - Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel, shall come to you, O Israel.
Verse 4 Structure
Who God is - O come, O Branch of Jesse's stem,
What God can do - …unto your own and rescue them!
Our current situation - From depths of hell your people save,
Desired outcome - …and give them victory o'er the grave
Action & Promise - Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel, shall come to you, O Israel.
APPLICATION FOR STRUCTURING A PRAYER LIFE
A thoughtful prayer that can answer these questions:
Who is God?
What God can do?
What is your current situation?
What is your desired outcome?
What action can you take?
What promise will you hang on to?
O COME, O COME, EMMANUEL
VERSE 1 O come, O come, Immanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
REFRAIN
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
VERSE 2 O come, O Wisdom from on high,
who ordered all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show
and teach us in its ways to go. Refrain
VERSE 3 O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to your tribes on Sinai's height
in ancient times did give the law
in cloud and majesty and awe. Refrain
VERSE 4 O come, O Branch of Jesse's stem,
unto your own and rescue them!
From depths of hell your people save,
and give them victory o'er the grave. Refrain
VERSE 5 O come, O Key of David, come
and open wide our heavenly home.
Make safe for us the heavenward road
and bar the way to death's abode. Refrain
VERSE 6 O come, O Bright and Morning Star,
and bring us comfort from afar!
Dispel the shadows of the night
and turn our darkness into light. Refrain
VERSE 7 O come, O King of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind.
Bid all our sad divisions cease
and be yourself our King of Peace. Refrain
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